Fire, Fire Everywhere

Our NBC affiliate didn't interrupt their regular day programming, but the CBS affiliate did. And what is so important out here in LA land? That is Los Angeles, not Louisiana. Well, actually the event is in the NW part of Los Angeles County--in the extreme west end of the famous "Valley." For those of you who don't remember the movie and song by the same name, the "Valley" is the San Fernando Valley.
And what is this event that the local news seems to be interested in?

Fire! Fire! Fire!

This time it's the super wealthy who have to evacuate. Hopefully the firefighters can keep the fire from crossing over...or "jumping" in fire parlance...the 101 Freeway. Because you see, if the fire jumps, it will go crazy as it always does when it jumps that freeway and it will go almost unchecked to...................


to......................


to......................


MALIBU.


AND THAT's where the super, super wealthy of the TV, movie and rock stars live.

So, the poor is hit in one LA weeks ago; and now the wealthy are hit in another LA.



UPDATE: Just heard on the radio news here that another fire has started, htis one in the hills above Burbank. Uh oh. My city is next to Burbank and I live a few blocks below the hills. Hope the fire departments check that fire so it doesn't jump over to my hills. I don't live in the hills though....but the rich of my town do. Uh oh.

FYI: The first fire is at the extreme Western end of the San Fernando Valley and Burbank is at the extreme Eastern end of that same Valley.

More Religion Means Higher Crime?

Gregory Paul did a study published in the Journal of Religion and Society in which he makes the startling revelation that religious countries have more crime than non-religious ones.

According to the study,

RELIGIOUS belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide.

The study compares the social peformance of relatively secular countries, such as Britain, with the U.S., where the majority believes in a creator rather than the theory of evolution.

In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies.

The study concluded that the U.S. was the world’s only prosperous democracy where murder rates were still high, and that the least devout nations were the least dysfunctional. Mr Paul said that rates of gonorrhoea in adolescents in the US were up to 300 times higher than in less devout democratic countries.

Mr. Paul concludes that the study shows religion might actually contribute to social ills, and belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems.

I would really like to have your comments on this one.

Source: The Times (Britain)

Who Will Be Next?

Recently, many prophetic "voices," both Christian and secular have agreed on what area of the country will be the next great disaster place.

A study was done some years ago by the U.S. government, I believe, that said that the first disaster area, whether by terrorists or by natural forces, would be New York City.

The second area would be a level 4 or 5 hurricane in New Orleans.

And guess where the third area is according to both this study and the prophets? The area that hasn't had the major terrible disaster yet?

California.

Uh oh. That's where I live. Of course they think it will be an earthquake. But I am wondering if it might be either a flood like what happened in 1933 here in the Los Angeles area. Or perhaps it might be a terrorist attack.

Of course, I am hopeful nothing major will happen here. One prophet said that God is going to spare California.

Whew...good news.

Katrina and Rita--From Andrew Strom

Looks like a few other people think God has sent some wake-up calls to us too. here is the latest word from Andrew Strom.


USA - The 'SORROWS' BEGIN?
- by Andrew Strom

I write this as an outsider who loves the USA. I am a New
Zealander now living in the United States - currently involved in
the relief effort in Mississippi. The destruction here is an eye-
opener for sure.

But something is amiss in this country - something so serious -
that the loudest warnings from above are seemingly falling on
deaf ears. For the last 250 years, from a christian perspective,
America has been one of the greatest "Lands of Revivals" that
there has ever been. Since 1741, America has seen more Great
Awakenings than any other nation. It wouldn't be hard to make
the case that America is the most "Revived" nation in history.

Yet that has begun to change. America has grown rich, and has
forgotten God. She has turned away from the very one who
blessed her in the first place. And lately it seems like no matter
how loudly God shouts at her to turn around, she is too
preoccupied to listen. Things are about to get pretty rough here.

As I write this, yet another category 4 or 5 hurricane is bearing
down on the Texas coast. If it hits the oil-refining region below
Houston, it could have a catastrophic effect. Either way, it is
difficult to see how the nation can keep absorbing these
massive shocks. The human tragedy is indescribable.

Four years ago, God sent the first of these wake-up calls to
this nation. All he had to do was lift his hand of protection for
an instant. After 9-11, America did get somewhat "religious" for
a season, but this has since worn off. There was no permanent
repentance. Comfort, entertainment, and materialism still rule
the land, and God alone knows what it will take to change that.
The size of the shocks that are necessary - only He can tell.
What will it take for America to repent - to turn back to the God
of her fathers?

9-11 didn't do it. The four hurricanes criss-crossing Florida
last year didn't do it. And hurricane Katrina destroying the
casinos, the oil, and the "Southern Decadence" city of New
Orleans didn't do it either. The mayor was back there within
weeks, urging them to gear up for the next debauchery parade,
known as Mardi Gras. Throwing it in the very face of God. These
people have learned nothing. And thus, the wake-up calls will continue.

But what about the church? Is she blameless in all this?

I have a friend here who believes that America is about to
become a third world country - all because she will not repent.
The process is already underway. This is but the "beginning of
sorrows."

Strom's website:http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~revival/index.html

Christian Carnival #88 is up at Neil's

This week's Christian Carnival #88 is at Neil Uchitel's blog, Digitus, Finger & Co..

There are some great blog posts, and going to Neil's blog is worth it because it's so pretty and easy to read too...:).

My Response to a Commenter

In my post, Major Wake-Up Call at Least, one of the comments, by mic, said some things I would like to respond to.

mic writes,
I mean, if you really want to take away the last ounces of hope from people, then tell them god has reigned down fire upon them for their indiscretions because they don't love him and follow him properly. And that the solution is to revere and adore and find an intimate relationship with this god who loves them so much that he would hurt them in such a way.

Actually, I didn't say that I felt New Orleans was under judgement although that might be or not. What I wrote was I believe this was a huge wake-up call for the church at large in the United States as well as a wake-up call for the country as a whole. And, I said, it could be a judgement.

mic continues,
Just like Job, right? (Y'know, the righteous and upright man) His catastrophe was judgment upon his sin as well, wasn't it? Oh wait, I remember now. . .at first he believed that God did just give and take on a whim (1:21) but later said that he repented of that position because he now understands that evil is evil and that his god is in constant combat with it (42:1-6).

In some situations what is in Job is true, yes. But God also judged Israel by sending them into captivity. It's pretty clear in the Scriptures that God did this.

Or on the issue of falling towers: Jesus emphatically denies that those who were killed in a building accident in the ancient world were being judged by this god, for he regarded it as an outcome of living in a fallen world (Luke 13:4).

And again, that is a specific incident. There has been prophet after prophet TODAY that has warned both the country and the church, just like the prophets of the Old Testament warned Judah and Israel. BUT most aren't listening today just as they didn't listen then.

And before Sodom is thrown into the discussion, let us remind ourselves again that we do not have the right or authority to pass judgment when we are not given the perspective of god as is the case in the Genesis account. We are like Job, without his vantage point.

I didn't throw Sodom in but since it was brought up, I think it's a good example of what MIGHT happen if a city; state/territory/province; and/or, country persists in gross sin.

So go ahead and point to the many world events as have so many generations have done in vain before you. I agree that these are the end times (since Acts 2), but there is none who know the day nor the hour (Matthew 24:36). Your very selective view of recent history only demonstrates an insatiable desire to know that time (and perhaps try to know that which Jesus claimed to not know?). . .

I didn't say anywhere that I believed Jesus was coming soon. Actually I don't.

Go ahead and crush hope and further drive wedges between those who have already tasted judgment. Add to that taste the sound of vain preaching that alienates children from their god. And these leaders and bloggers (the ones you hold in such contempt) will do the work of REAL saints of compassion instead of masquerading as prophets of gloom.

If non-Christians who might happen to read this misunderstand, then I am sorry. But this blog really was created to help Christians know what's going on in the [evangelical] church at large. I didn't say anything specific to "crush" people in New Orleans, Alabama or Mississippi. I rejoice that we are now finding that churches rose to their finest hour in the unselfish aid they gave as did almost every American.

But that doesn't take away this being a wake-up call or even a judgement.

I know my rhetoric was a bit harsh, but my stomach tends to turn whenever I perceive God's to do the same. . .

I don't know about God, but I didn't mind mic's rhetoric at all. I appreciate different points of view and I respect them. I welcome diverse comments on all of my posts.

Children and the Spirit

Today's post will be very much a Charismatic/Pentecostal one.

How much can Christian children handle in the way of spiritual gifts?

As you know, I'm not a big fan of the Third Wave Charismatic movement (although I have no problem with the REAL Charismatic/Pentecostal stream). The Elijah (prophetic) email list is a Third Wave one and I find many of the posts disturbing...to me at least. However, once in a blue moon there is actually something to agree with there. Recently, there was an email post from the Walters....Kathie and her husband David. One of the Walters' ministry is to children in developing the gifts of the Holy Spirit that is within the children.

Although I get tired of the constant visions, revelations and vague prophecies on that list, I do think that parts of the Walters' post about children are valid and instructive.

They say...
over the last 35 years, we have seen many thousands of children with a powerful anointing, prophesying, praying for the sick, and many
miracles happening.

Their reasoning for this is the fact that Christian children have as much Holy Spirit that adult Christians do. At times, they point out, we tend to think children have only a small bit to "fit" into their small bodies. Or perhaps, because they are young, the Holy Spirit cannot work well through them. Of course, when you think about this, it is totally ridiculous. A Christian child will have as much Holy Spirit as a Christian adult.

I also agree with the Walters that children should be invovled more in praying for the sick (to both sick children and sick adults), and prophesying AS THEY ARE ABLE (my words--in caps).

The Walters continue in their description of things they have seen with children:

I have seen judgments released, as children have prophesied. You do know that God's judgments lead to life? I have been with children
who have prophesied about the closing of a church. They prophesied
that the church had rejected a move of God, which they had actually
prayed for. They prophesied that the pastor was about to leave his
wife and family, and that the church would close in three weeks.
They prophesied that someone would take the money. When they were
through, they asked if they could "go and play now." Let me tell
you, within three weeks, it (had) all happened.

Again, I agree. In fact, there is another group that we tend to underestimate--the developmentally disabled (for those of you who are not familiar with this word--it is the new politically correct term for the old "mentally retarded")..

However, in working with these two groups, (children and the developmentally disabled), I believe there needs to be some guidelines. Revelations and visions aren't enough as they can lead children astray.
So, I propose the following:

1. It is imperative that before children pray or prophesy, they must not be doing this to "please" their parents or other adults. Otherwise, they might make things up.

2. Children and the dev. disabled must learn key Scriptures as the foundation for their faith. This is where I feel the Third Wavers often fail. For instance, when children really understand "He Himself took our sicknesses" (Matt. 8:17), it can be a powerful idea for them.

3. In conjunction with #2, children must learn and understand what the foundation of their faith is--that is the cross. They must understand what was done there--on their learning level of course.

4. There must be some very spiritually discerning adults to make sure the visions, revelations, prophetic words, etc. are really from God and not from the child's imagination. It's tempting to accept anything they say so as not to hurt or discourage them. But in the long run, this will be very injurious and confusing to them. I've seen children spout something off which was accepted by the adults right away as some great prophetic word, but it was dubious. I've also seen children give prophetic words to please adults, for attention, and other dubious reasons. Adults cannot afford to sell these children or dev. disabled children/adults out by catering to just anything they say.

But on the other hand, it's a beautiful experience and also a boon for the church when children and the dev. disabled are allowed to participate in the spirtual gifts to edify and help the saints.

And...I believe they absolutely should be included.

What Are They Really Doing?

I received this forwarded email recently. It was written by a lady from Mc Comb which is, I believe, up river from New Orleans.

_______WHAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE KATRINA________

-The poor and the wealthy hurt by the storm.
-Black, white, Hispanic, Oriental and Indian all hurt by the storm.
-Christian people giving, giving, giving.
-Churches going all out to minister in Jesus' name.
-Neighbors going door to door helping one another.
-Thugs and hoodlums going door to door looking for someone -vulnerable.
-Ice and water being fought over as police tried to keep the peace.
-People coming up from New Orleans taking over empty houses because shelters are full.

-Out of town volunteers coming with food and staying for now a week still serving it.
-The Churches all over this part of the country doing what Christians do in a crisis.
-The Red Cross doing a job in the shelters.
-The Salvation Army doing a great job in the community.
-Four Hundred crewman from everywhere bring back the power to our homes, churches and businesses.

-Lines at service stations a block to a mile long.
-National Guardsman patrolling the streets of Mc Comb along with Kentucky policemen protecting us from the hoodlums and thugs of Mc Comb, Pike County and New Orleans (the most dangerous city in the world before Katrina.)

-Drug dealers working outside shelters.
-Doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel working tirelessly, even sleeping in the hospital to do the job God called them to do.


________WHAT I HAVE NOT SEEN________

-The ACLU setting up a feeding line.
-People for the American Way helping in the shelters.
-The NAACP doing any work whatsoever.
-The American Atheist organization serving meals in the shelters.
-Jesse Jackson directing traffic at the gas stations.

I could go on but you get my message. It's the Christian people with love and compassion who do the work. The gripers in Congress should come on down and get in line to pass the water and the ice.
.............................................................

While I understand that the writer wanted to give credit to the churches and the mentioned aid agencies, I was curious as to what the ACLU, NAACP, PFAW, the American Atheists and Jesse Jackson WERE or WERE NOT doing, so I went to their respective Internet sites. I am always interested in the truth. This is what I found.
Keep in mind that none of these organizations, with the exception of Jackson's, is an aid organization. They are political rights' organizations.

*ACLU (ww.aclu.org)--I can find nothing they did except their call for President Bush to keep politics out of the Katrina relief aid. But that wasn't on the front page of their site. One had really look on other site pages for it.

*NAACP (www.naacp.org)
Here are the exact quotes from their website:

"In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP has been actively engaged providing immediate relief to those hit the hardest and suffering the greatest loss."

and...

"NAACP has launched the Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate assistance to the worst -affected victims and mobilize resources to feed, clothe and shelter displaced victims in the worst affected areas."

and...

"For relief call: 1-866-xxx-xxxx" (I'm not publishing the phone number for obvious reasons except to show that it is not a toll call).

and...

"Alert: NAACP Opens Emergency Command Center in Biloxi, MS"

*People for the American Way (www.pfaw.org)
I found nothing except recommendations for how the aid money should be spent.

*American Atheists (www.atheists.org)
Here is a quote from their site in which they list non-religious aid organizations to give to including the Red Cross:

"AMERICAN ATHEISTS urges all fellow nonbelievers to contribute to the rescue and other humanitarian efforts in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina.

A number of secular, non-religious aid organizations are active in this relief campaign. They do not incorporate a religious message in their operations, nor do they proselytize to those in need."

[THEN THEY LIST 13 AID AGENCIES]

After that they tell anyone who has been evacuated to the Houston area and needs employment to contact someone named Gary. Gary is an atheist jeweler. But you must speak English and not smoke. Then they give Gary's phone number.

*Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition (www.rainbowpush.org)
Here are quotes from their website:

"For those with Internet access, go to the FEMA web site for information and assistance. CLICK HERE for FEMA Disaster Aid"

and...

"Rev. Jackson Makes Second Rescue Mission into New Orleans

Rainbow PUSH Coalition Leader to Hold 11: 30 a.m.
Press Conference in Chicago on Saturday to Discuss His Findings
CHICAGO (SEPT. 2, 2005). One day after rescuing about 450 students stranded in dorms and on thoroughfares in New Orleans, Rev. Jesse Jackson returned to the predominantly black city with more buses to transport some of the hungry and desperate citizens who remained in the city five days after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina."

--->So, there's the truth folks....nuttin' but da truth.

African Aid

Answer to Yesterday's trivia question:
USC (University of Southern California)

And now onto the more serious aspects of life.......
Several weeks ago the rock stars had another concert for African poverty. But how much of this money really gets to the people in need? For that matter, how much of the U.S. government aid money gets to the African people in need?

Sophia Murphy, director of the Trade Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis, says that her research with Kathleen McAfee, a geographer at the University of California, Berkeley, has shown that the United States food-aid system has two main problems - ones that other major donor countries have already taken steps to solve.

First, she says,

..almost all the aid is in the form of food produced in the United States. The government buys food from American commodity traders. The food is fortified, bagged and shipped by American firms. This approach usually results in costs well over market rate for food, handling and transport. The emphasis on using American commodities and firms is grossly inefficient and means that food is slow to arrive where it is needed. It also prevents the establishment of local food systems.

Most other major donors, particularly those in the European Union, give money instead of food. This frees agencies like the United Nations World Food Program to buy food from farmers near the affected country - farmers who are often very poor - and to send the food quickly where it is most needed.

To its credit, the Bush administration proposed designating an additional $300 million for food to be bought from local or regional sources this year, but Congress rejected the proposal.

And the Second major problem according to Ms. Murphy and Ms. McAfee?

The United States sells some of its food aid. It is the only country other than South Korea to sell food aid (albeit for less than commercial prices) or give it to intermediaries that then sell it. Private American aid organizations receive American food aid and sometimes sell the food at local markets to raise money for their other aid programs in the country. Governments of recipient countries also sell food aid at local markets to raise money. The result is a subsidized sale that creates unfair competition for local farmers and commercial traders.

.....the system fails to strengthen food production and systems of food distribution in vulnerable countries. If we want our contributions to tackle the root causes of hunger, then the United States government needs to make immediate changes to the food-aid system.

It should transition to cash-based aid and phase out sales of food aid. The United States also needs to work with other donors and local governments to establish regional reserves in the most vulnerable parts of the world so that local authorities and private agencies can respond to crises quickly. The government should make multi-year guaranteed donations to the World Food Program so that the agency has the financial reserves to allow it plan its responses to emerging crises. The United States should also simplify its food aid system, which consists of six different programs administered by two agencies.

The best food aid is flexible, timely, responsive and provides a buffer for tragic food shortfalls caused by devastation from disease, war or nature, while strengthening the systems of food production and distribution in the countries and regions it is trying to help.

(Source: The New York Times Op/Ed page-August 19, 2005)

MY COMMENT: I think this article has some good ideas, but I would ask one important question. If the United States were to give total cash to buy food from the local African farmers, how would they know the money would go for that instead of to corrupt and/or warring leaders to buy luxeries and/or arms for themselves and their often oppressive armies? If we could make sure the money goes to the indigenous farmers, then fine.

Another ramification of this article - what would happen economically to all the people who grow and ship the food aid from this country. Would there be an impact? Or is this aid quite small as far as the total U.S. farm output goes? Are certain farmers more impacted than others? If so, who? Or is this another boon for big agribusinesses?

Trivia Question and CC

TRIVIA QUESTION

*OK...here's your trivia sports question. Sadly, I have to relegate it to trivia since even died-in-the-wool sports fans often don't know the answer to this one. It really is easy, but it's surprising how many people don't know the answer, only because of WHERE the school is located.
OK..are you ready? Here is the question:

What college football team this year is going for their third consecutive #1 national college football title?
And, where is this college or university located?
(Hint #1-The name of the school will tell you where it is).
(Hint #2-I am an alumna of this school).

Answer will appear tomorrow.


THIS WEEK'S CHRISTIAN CARNIVAL

*A HUGE thanks to Mark at Pseudo-Polymath for stepping in at the last moment to be the substitute host for this week's Christian Carnival LXXXVII. Thank you so much Mark. I know how long this takes, and stepping in at the last minute (Mark has jury duty to boot this week) is really hard. Oh, and Mark does something unique. He uses frames. You have to go there to see what I am talking about. All you html gurus will know...:)

At the Carnival I found a post about what we were talking about here yesterday.....Jordan at Jordan's view does a nice job with Katrina? Was It a Judgment of God?.

Quote of the Day

From Ingrid at Slice of Laodicea:

Vigilance for liberty in the City of Man is important.
Vigilance for sound doctrine in the City of God is much more important.

Cuba

Unless something major comes up about the New Orleans situation, hopefully, this will be the last post on that for a while. But I wanted to do a quick blog today that I thought was fascinating.

In my Sunday Los Angeles Times, there was an article about how Cuba handles these level 4 and 5 hurricanes. It turns out that it does a very good job without much loss of life.

The reason of course is Cuba is a military-type dictatorship. When Fidel says "Evacuate!" the people move.....fast. But one thing Cuba is doing well are the drills they have on a continual basis. The people know exactly what to do and where to go in the face of a hurricane disaster.

Daniel P. Erikson, Caribbean specialist at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, says....

Cuba views hurricanes as a top national priority, and they know the drill.

Yearly Cuba holds military exercises across the island with two-day training sessions for emergency workers, simulated evacuations and reviews of emergency plans.

"During hurricanes," the Times article says, "Cuba's four state-run TV stations run nonstop evacuation orders. The coverage is anchored by President Fidel Castro. The [Cuban] government says it evacuated 1.5 million people in July ahead of hurricane Dennis. Most went to safe zones and 245,000 flocked to state-run shelters."

Erikson points out that Cuba is still a police state with tight control. He says,
...one advantage they have is the ability to move large numbers of people in a short amount of time. But of course, the political environment of Cuba makes it difficult to resist those kinds of orders.

On the other hand, a letter to the editor of my city's newspaper, (I live in a city next to Los Angeles and we have our own paper), pointed out that.....

our country is not under martial law. ....private organizations such as the Red Cross were started in this country to take care of these needs.

My Observation: Kind of a dilemma isn't it.

Major Wake-Up Call at Least

Sadly, almost all of the Christian bloggers I've read, as well as countless other Christian leaders, do not think at all that Hurricane Katrina was a judgement of God on this country AND the church, not even a wake-up call.

I firmly believe (along with Jacob Prasch and other REAL prophets) that this was a HUGE wake-up call by God, if not the first of judgements. Some also believe it is linked to the United State's policy toward Israel as I wrote in a previous post, Ten Major Events.

Here are the events, IMO, prophetically:

*It started in way back in 1979 with the capture of the American Embassy workers in Tehran, Iran. (Some might even argue that it started in the 1950's with the non-win in Korea and then into the 60's and 70's with the defeat in Vietnam).

*Next was the challenger blowup in 1989.

*Next was the Beirut Marine Corps barracks blow up in 1983.

*Next was the first World Trade center attack in NYC in 1993.

*Next was the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi in 1998.

*Then the USS Cole was attacked in 2000.

Notice how events keep getting less far apart as well as killing and injuring more people and damaging more property.


*Next was the second attack by the planes on the Twin Towers in NYC, the attack against the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the almost-attack by the plane that went down in Pennsylvania--all in Sept., 2001.

*Next was the debacle in Iraq after we "won."

*And the next HUGE wake-up-almost judgement call was certainly Hurricane Katrina.

So, then the BIG question remains..................

WHAT IS NEXT? AND WHEN?

9/11

Today is the four-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers in NYC, the Pentagon, and the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.

Adam Mayblum, a survivor of 9/11, wrote:

America is not an image, it's a concept...If you want to kill us, leave us alone and we'll do it ourselves. If you want to make us stronger, attack--and we unite.

Comments

Sadly, I had to turn on the comment verification function as I am being spammed. So, if you have seen "comments removed by the administrator" in the past few days, I want you to know that I almost never delete a pertinent comment no matter how against my position it is. I have only had to delete one really language-offensive comment in the year and three months I've had this blog up and running.

The comments you've seen deleted recently include the following:
-an ad for golf equipment
-an ad for a dating service,and so forth.

So, I decided to turn on the function whereby to leave a comment here you must copy the strange combo of letters/numbers you see on the screen. Sorry for that, but who needs ads for dating services?

Well, maybe you shouldn't answer that one...LOL.

Where Is God?

In the midst of some very controversial prophetic words on this blog, I thought I would give you all a nice respite. So, here is a great poem that says it all from an Internet chat friend of mine who wrote it.


"Where is God?" the cynic asked, and wiped away a tear.
"In the midst of chaos, don't tell me that God is near."

"How can anyone believe there is a God of love
When He allows disaster, watching smugly from above."

"Where is God? I'll just get stoned, so I don't have to see
The crowded, dying, stinking masses of humanity.
I'll take care of number one, and keep my senses numb
And put down Christians everywhere; they're ignorant and dumb."

Friend, I saw God yesterday, when someone gave a bed
To someone he had never met...and got that person fed!
God was in the child's eyes who gave ten cents away
To help Katrina's victims somehow get through one more day.

Someone from my little town has volunteered to leave
Because his EMT abilities just might relieve
A little of the suffering and misery and strife.
God's in Brian's heart, to make him go and risk his life.

I've seen God in every tear that anyone has shed.
God will lead the valiant in the hectic days ahead.
Don't look up: Look all around. Just seek, and you will find
That God works through the hearts and through the hands of all mankind.

-Donna Wood

More on the "WHY" of Katrina

Here are two more "words" about the WHY of Hurricane Katrina from prophetic ministries that are not especially associated with the Third Wave prophets. The source for these is the Andrew Strom prophetic revival list (recently Strom broke with the Third Wave prophetic).

I've edited the second one for sake of brevity.


*1. From 'Olive Tree Ministries':

What you won't hear anywhere is that this week New Orleans was
to observe "Southern Decadence Day" with 100,000 homosexuals
gathering there to commit unspeakable acts in public. Previous
events were photographed and sent to the mayor and police officials
but they did not care. They had their own lust: The $100,000,000
the event brings in.

Gambling casinos took a hit on the coast as this is where the eye
of the storm hit.

And as America forced Israelis out of parts of their land, hurricane
Katrina was building in the Atlantic. A Fox reporter said, "It must
be an emotional experience (for Americans) to walk away from
their homes and not ever live in them again." Same with those
forced out in Israel. Israeli homes are being demolished as Gulf
Coast homes are demolished.

This was America's greatest "evacuation." Now we have "refugees".
Israelis were evacuated and many are refugees living in tents and
refugee centers, thanks to America. The Israeli uprooting will affect
their entire economy in that some of their finest produce which was
exported is now left behind.

America's economy could face a steep recession as oil processing
refineries were damaged. Plan to see price increases within days.
Will this bring our economy down? Major industries will be affected
from food delivery, jet fuel, travel, insurance, and so much more
with the "ripple effect" of skyrocketing gas prices.


*2. From A. M.
"We REAP What we SOW"

As I watched the people of Gaza Strip driven from their homes, I knew
in my spirit there would be very swift (within a few weeks at
best) consequences for our country. In case you don't know, the
USA is the driving force behind these agreements.

I just wasn't prepared for the obvious parallel in reaping what we
sowed. It was just a couple of weeks ago, that we watched the
people of Gaza driven, weeping, from their homes. They were
forced to leave their homes on and near the sea, as their
government then came in and bulldozed those homes. Where
are these people now? They are in government shelters and
government housing. They are basically homeless.

Now look at our situation. Our neighbors on and near the sea have
been driven from their homes and their homes have been destroyed.
They, too, are weeping and homeless, dependent on the
government. One can scoff and say that this is just coincidence,
but there are no coincidences in the Lord. The Bible says that we
reap what we sow, and that those who bless Israel will be blessed,
and those who curse Israel will be cursed.

Even in the midst of this destruction here in our country and for those in Israel, God is at work. He CAUSES all things to work together for good for those who are called according to His purposes. Many will call upon His Name during these days and be saved. So pray that people will open their eyes and call upon Him.

Ten Major Events

Following up on the question, "Is Hurricane Katrina a part of judgements from God on our country and the church," this is one of most fascinating things I've seen recently. I believe it speaks for itself.

TEN MAJOR EVENTS Related to U.S./ISRAEL

1. October 30, 1991: The Perfect Storm
As President George H. W. Bush is opening the Madrid (Spain) Conference to consider "land for peace" in Israel's Middle East role, the "perfect storm" develops in the North Atlantic, creating the largest waves ever recorded in that region. The storm travels 1000 miles from "east to west" instead of the normal "west to east" pattern and crashes into the New England Coast. Thirty-five foot waves crash into the Kennebunkport home of President Bush.

2. August 23, 1992: Hurricane Andrew
When the Madrid Conference moves to Washington DC and the peace talks resume, Hurricane Andrew, the worst natural disaster ever to hit America, comes ashore and produces an estimated $30 billion in damage and leaving 180,000 homeless in Florida.

3. January 16, 1994: Northridge Earthquake
President Bill Clinton meets with Syria's President Hafez el-Assad in Geneva. They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes giving up the Golan Heights. Within 24 hours, a powerful 6.9 earthquake rocks Southern California. This quake, centered in Northridge, becomes the second most destructive natural disaster to hit the United States, behind Hurricane Andrew.

4. January 21, 1998: Lewinsky Scandal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Clinton at the White House and is coldly received. Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refuse to have lunch with him. Shortly afterwards on that day,the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks into the mass media and begins to occupy a major portion of Clinton's time.

5. September 28, 1998: Hurricane George
As Secretary of State Albright works on the final details of an agreement in which Israel would give up 13 percent of Yesha (Judah and Samaria), Hurricane George slams into the United States Gulf Coast with 110 mph winds and gusts up to 175 mph. The hurricane hits the coast and stalled. On September 28, Clinton meets with Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House to finalize this land deal. Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations about declaring an independent Palestinian state by May 1999, as Hurricane George pounds the Gulf Coast, causing $1 billion in damage. At the exact time that Arafat departs the country, the storm begins to dissipate.

6. October 15-22, 1998: Texas Flooded
On October 15, 1998, Arafat and Netanyahu meet at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland. The talks are scheduled to last five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of Yesha. The talks are extended and conclude on October 23. On October 17, awesome rains and tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with rain. The rain and flooding in Texas continue until October 22 and then subside. The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area.

7. November 30, 1998: Market Capitalization Evaporates
Arafat comes to Washington again to meet with President Clinton to raise money for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. A total of 42 other nations were represented in Washington. All the nations agreed to give Arafat $3 billion in aid. Clinton promised $400 million, and the European nations $1.7 billion. On the same day, the Dow Jones average drops 216 points, and on December 1, the European Market had its third worst day in history. Hundreds of billions of market capitalization were wiped out in the U.S. and Europe.

8. December 12, 1998: Clinton is Impeached
As Clinton lands in the Palestinian-controlled section of Israel to discuss the "land for peace" process, the House of Representatives votes four articles of impeachment against him.

9. May 3, 1999: The Powerful Super Tornado
On the day that Yasser Arafat is scheduled to declare a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital, the most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph the fastest wind speed ever
recorded. The declaration is postponed to December 1999 at the request of President Clinton, whose letter to Arafat encourages him in his "aspirations for his own land." He also writes that the Palestinians have a right to "determine their own future on their own land" and that they deserve to "live free, today, tomorrow and forever."

10. Week of October 11: Hurricane, Earthquake and Dow Collapse
As Jewish settlers in 15 West Bank (Israel) settlements are evicted from the covenant land in Israel, the Dow-Jones financial averages lose 5.7 percent in the worst week since October 1989. On October 15 the Dow lost 266 points, and a hurricane slams into North Carolina. On the next morning, October 16, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocks the southwest in the fifth most powerful earthquake in 20th Century. The earthquake was centered in the California desert and did little damage but was felt in three states.

Source: Koenig's International News - http://watch.org

Judgement Day

I think it's fairly apparent now that Christians should be asking the question, Is God Judging America? I would say from my reading after 9/11/2001 that the majority of the evangelical church didn't think so at that time. HOWEVER, now after Hurricane Katrina, more and more are getting on board with the judgement issue. In one of my previous posts (Aug. 11, 2005) , entitled BOOM!, I wrote that I sensed God had been about ready to leave America to its own devices long ago with the blow up of Challenger in 1989. Then when I saw that the Chinese did NOT buy Unocal AND the space shuttle recently came home in one piece after some concern, I knew God was still here but desparately trying to get our attention. By "our" I don't necessarily mean "sinners" (although of course them too), but rather the evangelical church.

If Katrina isn't that wake up call I don't know what is. Here are some interesting emails from the Elijah list and other sources that you might find both interesting and illuminating. As you know if you've read this blog for a while, I don't care for the Third Wave of which the Elijah list is a part of, but some of their prophets' recent "words" seem be actually right on so I will offer them here. You can also read them in their entirety as well as others pertaining to the New Orleans happenings at The Elijah List.

Any comments of clarification I might offer will be in [brackets]. Also, for length, I might edit some of the words, but will certainly leave the meanings intact.
So read on,

*From Chuck Pierce:

WORD OF THE LORD THAT CAME FORTH ON AUGUST 12, 2005 [NOTE: This was given a few weeks before the storm]

To the United States of America ... Know that today this nation is
being realigned. Get ready, for refuge cities will begin to arise
throughout this land. They will begin to rise up from state to state
to state all along the East coast, all along the Gulf, and all along
the West coast.

I am raising up refuge cities. Florida is resisting the development
of My plan, but I will cause a strong remnant to arise in this
state. I AM even beginning to train those in cities that will know
how to move forward. Many of you have wondered: 'Why am I not
involved here or there - why do I seem to be shelved?' I will begin
to assign you to be a part of those groups that will aid My next
move in the earth.

This will come because of great shakings, floods and disease
structures that are forming. I AM assigning you now to spread My
Good News. I AM developing ears to hear My grace. There is a
shifting now of compassion and mercy, for I need My healers to be
ready to be released throughout the land.

...To those in law enforcement and public authority, lawlessness is
beginning to rise and escalate. Many of you who have prayed will
become discouraged as you see statistics change. Lift up your heads.
This is the beginning of dividing and exposing the real source of
covenant breaking and violence that is seething in this land. I will
give you strategies over how to defeat major lawless structures.
These strategies are but temporary measures, so remain on alert from
this day forward.
We are entering into a supernatural
dimension. Bind the accuser who is working in the earth realm to
bring division in the midst of crisis. Begin to set a blood line
barrier at the 150 mile radius around the victimized area. How do
you do that? You get up and decree by the Spirit of God that there
is a supernatural shield set so that the enemy's plan cannot invade
that barrier. Cry out for angelic forces to visit individuals that
are crying out in these areas. Ask for angels to HELP in this
structure of lawlessness that is operating in this part of the
earth. Pray for those that are serving as refuge cities Houston [remember that this word was given way before Houston was set up as a refuge for the New Orleans evacuees], Baton Rouge, and others. In the midst of trauma, always let God show you areas in our lives that can be purified. Bind condemnation and ask God to purify us where we have been weak in the past. In intercession, what you identify ... purify. Ask God to purify areas where we have allowed the enemy to take control. Pray for supernatural, unexplained healings to start occurring in individuals. Ask for the Holy Spirit to invade this situation.

Yes, this situation could be a result of the Gaza Strip crisis in
Israel. Yes, this situation could be a result of the spiritistic
decadence that goes on in New Orleans. Yes, this situation could be
a result because of the slave entry through New Orleans. Yes, this
situation could be a result of the gambling along the coast line.
Yes, this could be because of the Circuit Court System in New
Orleans taking its stand on behalf of abortion in the land. However,
the issue right now is to let the Spirit of God rise up within you
and for you begin to cry out in the midst of this situation in a way
that you have never cried out before.

Job 22:30 says, "He will even deliver the one [for whom you
intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through
the cleanness of your hands." (AMP)

Once you have lived through severe trauma, you realize that pointing
a finger is not necessary !!!

You actually realize that it is just the grace of God that any of us
are not in these situations. Pray that the "spirit of man withstand
this major wound and infirmity in this nation" (Prov 18:14).

*From Steve Schultz, publisher of the Elijah list:

I've spoken to MANY prophets and prophet intercessors regarding
their discernment on the Katrina Hurricane and almost to a person,
they discern that one of the major reasons (but not the only reason)
it was allowed was this: We as America-- have felt that Israel
should be pressured to pull out of their own lands.

In fact, I don't think I've heard from a prophet that hasn't
discerned that there was a relationship to Israel in that
Hurricane...among other sins of our land, of course.

As we repent for our own sins and identify with those who are
suffering and repenting in those Gulf Coast states, please also
remember to pray for a man who I believe is one of the greatest
presidents I've seen in my lifetime, President George Bush.

Pray that he will be given Godly and wise counsel on what to do in
this catastrophe and also for how he might change course, if
directed to by God to do so, on matters concerning Israel.


*From Rick Ridings:

How should we pray in the wake of what may soon prove to be one of
America's greatest natural disasters in history? Is this crisis a
one-time thing, or is it only the second in a series of disastrous
judgments waiting at America's door, unless there is a massive move
of lasting repentance??

Katrina means "pure", and I believe it is a call for purification. A
week before Katrina, as we prayed about the forced removal of Jewish
people from their homes in Gaza and parts of Samaria (the northern
"West Bank"), we sensed that God was going to speak soon in very
strong terms His displeasure with the continued and increasing
pressure of the nations to "divide up the Land" (Joel 3:2). Psalm 29
came out very strongly in both our day and night "watches" (we did
not know until the following day that we had both received the same
Scripture and message).

Evening, night, morning, and afternoon intercessors, all separately
received a sense that a storm was coming. They felt that God was
very angry about the pullout, and that His voice would soon thunder
His displeasure through nature. Some significant Scriptures received
were:

"The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory
thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters… The LORD sits
enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever."
--Psalm 29:3, 9, 10

"You boast, 'We have entered into a covenant with death, with the
grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps
by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and
falsehood our hiding place.' I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge,
the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. Your covenant
with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not
stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten
down by it." -- Isaiah 28: 15, 17, 18 ( See also Isaiah 30:27-33;
and Psalm 18:1-15)
-----------------------------
God's Mercy
-----------------------------
For any who might question the link of the Gaza/Samaria evacuation
with the New Orleans evacuation, I encourage you to read an article
by our friend, Avner Boskey, showing the parallels between the two
uprootings (See www.elijahlist.com/words).

In the hours just before Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of America, we
were crying out to God here in Jerusalem, where we conduct 24/7
worship and intercession from our center, facing Mt. Zion. As we
asked God to "in wrath remember mercy", we were led to confess two
root sins.

The first is the exploitation of sin and decadence, to not only
parade it shamelessly, but also to use it to gain money through
tourism and exportation, via the media. Secondly, the sin of saying
that God does not have the "right" to set the borders of nations --
pressuring Israel to divide up the Land and give away her biblically
promised inheritance to be replaced by an Islamic terrorist state,
probably to be dominated by forces openly dedicated to the
destruction of Israel. I believe that Katrina's last minute veer to
the right, avoiding a head-on with New Orleans, was an expression of
"in wrath remember mercy." Although we deeply grieve over lives
lost, it could have been even worse.
-----------------------------
UNLESS AMERICA AND EUROPE HEED THE WAKEUP CALL . . .
-----------------------------
Unless America heeds the wake-up call this time, and Europe heeds
the wake-up call from the London terrorism and the recent flooding,
there are worse judgments standing in line, waiting to be released
upon America and Europe. May we, as intercessors, cry out for a
spirit of repentance to be poured out upon America and Europe before
judgments come that are far worse than 9-11, the London bombings, or
Hurricane Katrina.

*From John Mark Poole in January 2005:

This morning, I heard the abundance of a mighty earthquake having
just occurred in the heavenlies. A major shift is taking place in
God's realm of the spiritual and the supernatural. Yet again, I was
overwhelmed when I felt that He impressed, during this time, that
our country will experience soon what I saw in the spiritual --
major earthquakes and extreme flooding.

Flooding was seen in the central and the southern United States. I
saw New Orleans, literally, 20 feet underwater across the main
downtown area. At this time of flooding in New Orleans, I saw it as
a sewer full of debris, and every form of garbage was floating
around and swirling in the flood. The French Quarter will be wiped
out in the flood. Bourbon Street will be abandoned. Alligators will
be swimming where dens of iniquity once abounded . . . -- John Mark
Pool, January 2005

--->I really wrestled with this next "prophet" since I still have grave reservations about him. However, I want to be fair...so here goes:

*from Kim Clement, Houston, TX July 22, 2005

Servants of God:

Enough of past curses reminding you of yesterday's failures. Enough
of New Orleans and its treachery!

Enough of stealing the Ark of the Covenant from my people just
because you had those surrounding you that had no faith. Caleb said
we are able to take this land. Joshua said we are able to take this
land. But ten voices arose against the Lord God, and they would
stone my servant Moses and say let us stone them and raise up
another leader so that we may go back to Egypt. Would you go back to
your dung? Would you go back to your vomit?

O New Orleans, God speaks to you from Houston tonight and says
"Enough of this!"

"For a judgment is coming," says the Spirit of the Lord, "and I will
take the men that have stood in faith and raise them above the flood
that shall destroy those that constantly bicker and stand against my
servant Moses, or my servant Bilbo. I want you to understand there
are great men in New Orleans that have faith, but you have been set
aside, not to lose but to win.

Enough of this!

For I will take the curses, and the bodies will even rise and they
will come forth on the water. But I will keep you, and the stench of
death will only last a few days.

And then, what I promised two years ago will come to pass for
August, September, and October of this year; I made a promise it
would happen. God said, "Be strengthened now. Be strengthened now,
for enough is enough," says the Lord.

*From Cindy Jacobs on June 6 ,1999:

Mardi Gras. Oh, I see a river. The Mardi Gras spirit is the spirit
of entertainment. Because of the hours you give over to TV, video,
and filth, you have no power and judge Bourbon street. "You have
worshipped at a temple of idols, made by the god of entertainment.
Repent now, repent now."

The Lord just tells me, "You don't know how to repent." Lord, teach
us how to repent! I speak to the god of entertainment. You have made
a covenant with the spirit of entertainment and with Hollywood and
with death. Loose them; leave them. Loose them now. (Spoke in
tongues.) I break every soul tie.

We've spent more time with the computer than with the Living God.
Oh, God, do this all over Your Church in America! The Lord is
showing me -- Oh, we can't even touch that! But when it gets enough,
and His bowl/cup in Heaven is full, He is going to rain on New
Orleans, for surely destruction is coming that way.

BUT, if you will pray, He is going to tip the bowl -- then the river
of His Spirit will fall. Bourbon street will have new wine, and the
Lord says, "I'm going to send the young -- my young people, the
righteous -- into these streets, and they're going to heal
transvestites -- they'll have sex change operations [back to normal]
just like that. I'm going to give them what they need. I'm going to
be their Lover!"


-->Part 2 of this post will be on tomorrow. It will be Ten Major Disasters related to what the United States did with Israel.
Very interesting stuff indeedy.